Howtoencourage

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Sympathy or empathy. Do you know the difference? Which one helps you deal with life?

Sympathy is defined in Webster as "an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other; inclination to think or feel alike; emotional or intellectual accord." This could be joining in a friend's pity party in a way that is useless and damaging to the person, letting them stay in the pit they created for themself.

Empathy means "the capacity for participating in another's feelings or ideas." Identifying and understanding how a person feels is the beginning of genuine interest and awareness in what is happening in anothers' life. Empathy sets the stage for change by challenging a person to examine why they hold on to certain beliefs and behaviors.

Can someone hold your hand, listen to your problems and at the same time kick you in the pants to get it together and get moving toward resolutions in your life? Or do you like to be stroked and coddled til you decide to step up to the plate on your own? Which way encourages you the best and helps you grow?

About Me

My world needs healing words, inspiring words, caring words--I want to know the right words to say.
Thus a lifetime of learning and how to encourage became my purpose and my story.
I found out:
I can impact a life in a positive way.
I can encourage people to persevere in difficult life situations. You can too!
We can make a difference in one another's lives.
My husband and I are still married, after 35 years of starting and owning several successful small businesses together. I have a degree in retail merchandising, am a human resource manager, advertising manager and janitor. I have been an employer and employee. I have been a counselee and counseled.
I love to volunteer in my church and community, encouraging women and children. I am a big fan of whoever said, 'volunteering is the rent you pay to live in community,' knowing that lifestyle comes from a giving and generous heart.
My greatest accomplishment is being mom to five of the most fabulous human beings in the world, my two daughters, son and sons-in-law are amazing; just ask me!